Business Credit Cards

Where is the best place for an office to keep fifty chequebook stubs? In a box? A filing cabinet? A drawer? They defy all known storage solutions and scupper your dreams of a minimalist office. Plus, they are a pain to administer and account for. But what is the alternative for a company that regularly has to make purchases? Perhaps a business credit card account is what you're looking for.

First of all, there's the convenience. You can have one account to which a multitude of cards are attached, so different employees can put their expenses on the card for instant payment with the minimum of fuss. On most of the high street bans' credit card accounts, you can also keep up to date online, checking the payments made from individual employees almost as they happen. This is particularly useful if you have a sales team travelling around the world; petrol expenses, train fares, hotels and flight tickets can all be covered.

There are also the more mundane expenses like paper, water and computer parts to consider - a business credit card account makes that petty cash tray a thing of the past. And this in turn can cut down on fraud and theft.

But what about the interest? Business card accounts are often run in the same way as a personal account, so if your company pays off the balance every month, there is no interest to pay.

As with all credit deals, it's a good idea to shop around. Some will offer special offers on certain purchases, for example items bought at a specific store or supplier. They might also offer insurance on purchases and other incentives. Choose well and you could well cut back on your business expenses.